A former factory and wasteland that has become a notorious Nottingham eyesore will finally be redeveloped.
Known as the Island Site, the land is occupied by the James Alexander Warehouses, which were once home to the Jesse Boot empire.
Covering 10.5 hectares between London Road and Manvers Street, the derelict grade II listed building has had a number of different owners since the departure of Boots.
A number of ambitious planning applications for homes and commercial property have fallen through, leaving the building and land in disrepair.
The City Council says it will now use a Compulsory Purchase Order which means the site owners will be forced into selling the land to the authority.
Travellers must see it and think ‘what’s that old wreck’
They say that plans for the site were drawn up in April, which will include; 500 apartments, 66,000 sq m business space including offices and research facilities.
Council Leader Jon Collins said: “We are determined to see this substantial site developed and after years of inaction and false dawns by the owners, we’re not prepared to wait any longer.
Picture: The factory has been derelict for decades. Photo by Ashley Dace.
“This is a site which has huge potential to provide large, high quality business space which will help us appeal to potential investors, as well as helping to meet some of our housing needs.
“We’re already talking to potential developers about the best way of bringing this site forward for development.”
Abandoned? : A timeline of the site
2006 – £900m scheme announced to revamp the site is abandoned
2007 – Plans for an Eastside development were revealed and a digital countdown clock to its opening was put up, but this counted down to zero, and was then removed, with no progress
2008 – Further planning permission was granted but has now lapsed
2011 – Tesco applied to develop on the site, but this was refused by Nottingham City Council over concerns it would not allow space for other competing retail units
June 2015 – Travellers occupied the site
The site can be seen when leaving and approaching Nottingham train station by railway, and is often one of the first glimpses visitors get of the city.
Hilary Silvester, chairman of Nottingham’s Civic Society said: “As tourists come and enter Nottingham on the train they must think ‘what’s that old wreck!’, I’m all for it being redeveloped, it’s an important Victorian building but it is becoming more and more of an eyesore and it doesn’t give the right impression to people coming into the city.
“There is always a worry that plans won’t follow through, considering the previous plans that were shelved, but I hope it comes to fruition given the public money that is being spent on the project.”
Nottingham City Council say that the land will be purchased from Heathcote Holdings Limited, Notts TV News were unable to contact them for a comment.
